Battery Relocation

Topic: Battery Relocation (Read 2862 times) previous topic - next topic

Battery Relocation

January 23, 2011, 04:05:47 PM

So I've been listening to a healthy debate with a couple of friends of mine about whether or not relocating the battery from under the hood to the trunk on such a big car would be meaningful. One says it will not do a thing to move 30 lbs on a car that weighs around 2 ton and the other says it would make a big difference because it's a 60 lb change, but you would get your most effect by hanging the battery out as far back in the right rear as possible and that since the right rear is normally the dominant wheel in a LSD rear-end, it should help on starts as well. Has anybody tested this or read any verifiable information on the effects of relocating the battery?

Battery Relocation

Reply #1 – January 23, 2011, 04:12:32 PM

What is this 2 ton car you are refering to?

Battery Relocation

Reply #2 – January 23, 2011, 07:21:26 PM

I have also thought about moving my battery to the trunk but my reason for moving it is I will need to relocate it due to the fact that is where my Procharger will sit but I think that Im just going to move it to the other side of the engine bay. Here in MO if you want to run at the local track and have the battery in the trunk you also have to put a kill switch on the rear of the car so I think that I will just move the battery to the passenger side of the engine bay.

Battery Relocation

Reply #3 – January 25, 2011, 09:20:07 PM

1988 Thunderbird Sport Coupe

Battery Relocation

Reply #4 – January 26, 2011, 06:48:44 PM

Relocating the battery to the right rear has been done for years and is effective for transferring weight to enhance traction.

If you run at the track, a shut off is required. It has to be wired to shut off the car not just disconnect the battery (so the engine doesn't run off the alternator)

Battery Relocation

Reply #5 – January 30, 2011, 12:50:31 PM

Am thinking of doing the same thing. After all, it's not 30 lbs., more like 60 if you use the correct battery for the tray. And you are removing all that weight from way out in front of the axle where it does lots of bad things to the rotational moment of inertia of the car, like make the nose bounce at high speed. Ideally the weight should be between the axles near the center of mass, but I think in the front/center of the trunk floor is the best place unless the interior is stripped for the track. The issue of a kill switch is worth considering, because you will have live cables running the length of the car and they could cause a fire if damaged, hence the race track rule. And yes, it weighs nearly two tons unless it has a PINTO MOTOR under the hood.

Battery Relocation

Reply #6 – January 30, 2011, 03:19:02 PM

The 2.3 with turbo and manifolds still weighs close to that of a 302.

Battery Relocation

Reply #7 – January 30, 2011, 08:50:37 PM

Quote from: Stealth;351231

you will have live cables running the length of the car and they could cause a fire if damaged

My battery is relocated to the trunk, and I only have one "live" cable running the length of the car, and it has a fuse on it.

move the starter relay with the battery so the only wire that is hot at all times is the charging wire.

Battery Relocation

Reply #8 – January 30, 2011, 09:04:04 PM

Quote from: Stealth;351231

And yes, it weighs nearly two tons unless it has a PINTO MOTOR under the hood.

My car would only weigh nearly two tons with 600 lbs of extra weight in the trunk

Battery Relocation

Reply #9 – January 31, 2011, 01:26:45 AM

I still have the battery under the hood in my T-Bird but in my wifes mustang its in the trunk.
Any waight you move from the front to the back will help.

But there are rules for the track and my trunk is full with fuel cell and 2 blue bottles right now.

Battery Relocation

Reply #10 – January 31, 2011, 07:45:26 PM

On a street car, that will not see the track, I doubt you would notice its in the back at all. I would save up some money and do some suspension/brakes or maybe a H.O. upgrade.

Battery Relocation

Reply #11 – January 31, 2011, 10:32:59 PM

4,000 lbs...dude, tell those guys to get their fat thumbs off the scales. Maybe one of the MN12 cars will tips the scales at that weight but most Fox 5.0 cars will not.

Darren

Battery Relocation

Reply #12 – February 11, 2011, 10:34:40 PM

What's all involved with moving the starter relay to the trunk? That's what I want to do, but I'm not sure how to do it. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Battery Relocation

Reply #13 – May 06, 2013, 02:55:40 PM

Darren you have a diagram of what your saying? I did not see on that web page.